Some people listen to respond.
Others listen to understand.
And then there are the ones who don’t listen at all because in their minds, they’re already right.
You know the kind.
They interrupt before you finish your sentence.
They twist your words to fit their own narrative.
They never take accountability because, well… that would mean admitting fault.
They talk in circles until you start questioning whether peace is even possible with them.
I’ve met those people in leadership, in relationships, and sometimes even within family. And every time, I walk away reminded of one truth: you cannot reason with someone who values being right more than being kind.
There’s a deep frustration that comes from trying to have a meaningful conversation with someone who refuses to hear you. You try to find common ground, you try to be calm, but eventually, you realize you’re standing in quicksand the more you talk, the deeper you sink.
What I’ve learned is this: people who always have to be right are rarely confident. They’re either trying to prove something to themselves or terrified to face the idea that they could be wrong.
Some fight to be right because they were once silenced and now mistake defensiveness for strength. Others have lived so long without accountability that ego has become their comfort zone.
Either way the result is the same: broken communication and shallow connection.
It’s hard to grow when the only voice you trust is your own echo.
Through leadership and faith, I’ve had to learn the art of silence. Not the kind that surrenders your truth but the kind that protects your peace. I’ve learned to pray before I react. I’ve learned to walk away without guilt. I’ve learned that not every battle deserves your energy.
Because at the end of the day, being right doesn’t make you wise. Humility does.
I’ve also learned that I’m not immune. There have been times I caught myself wanting to win the argument instead of understanding the heart of it. And thankfully, I have people in my life who correct me with love who remind me that growth comes from grace, not pride.
When someone always has to be right, they create a world where no one else feels safe to speak.
At work, it kills collaboration.
At home, it kills trust.
In faith, it kills connection.
If you’ve ever dealt with someone like that remember this: you don’t have to fight to prove your point. Sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is stay grounded, say your peace, and walk away knowing that time and truth will reveal what words cannot.
So, if I could leave you with one thought, it would be this…
Let them have their “rightness.” You hold onto your peace.
Because the freedom in letting go is worth far more than the satisfaction of saying, “I told you so.”
xo – Lish